I've never seen anything like this Colt apologist approach from the media

[alamo]

Re: Ive never seen anything like this Colt apologist approach from the media

I never ever remember anything like this, and quite honestly I have no clue why the media has decided to make the Colts their cause.

The media doesn't want to portray the NFL as "the Patriots and everyone else", and thus won't let go of Indy easily (especially after just one or two bad games).

Fans in general (and thus the media in general, to keep the fans tuning in) like dominant teams, but not if dominance is completely unchallenged. It gets boring. A true rivalry generates discussion and viewers as people choose sides. Think back to the 80/90s and the Cowboys-49ers rivalry, people's fond memories of that time are part of the reason the networks have so many players from those teams as sock puppets.

 

[Patriotic Fervor]

Re: Ive never seen anything like this Colt apologist approach from the media

Andy, if you saw the "Manning as Beowulf" thing, you'd have your answer.

What?!? They compared Manning to Beowulf??? Who dropped off the deep end and did that?

 

[Fixit]

Re: Ive never seen anything like this Colt apologist approach from the media

What?!? They compared Manning to Beowulf??? Who dropped off the deep end and did that?

Not "compared." They had a whole Manning as Beowulf and San Diego as Grendel, I guess, tie-in to the movie. It was dreadful.

 

[PatriotsReign]

Re: Ive never seen anything like this Colt apologist approach from the media

I really don't understand it.
I have hardly ever in my life heard the majority of the media use injuries as an excuse for any team. Even moreso, as an excuse for a player.
Listneing yesterday and reading today, it seems a strong majority of the media is trying to paint this almost as a game that shouldn't count as a loss.
Manning throws 6 picks, and they are giving the Colts a pass due to injuries?
The Patriots of 03 and 04 were the 2 SB Champs in NFL history with the most games lost to injury by starters. There is absolutely no way anyone would have blamed injuries, and in fact, playing through them was barely addressed.

Yesterday Tom Jackson went as far as saying BEFORE the game that a Colt loss owuldn't be a big deal, because Tony Dungy has the character to get past that. It almost seems like the media is trying to RAISE their opinion of the Colts due to back to back losses. Not only are they making an excuse but they are trying to make it out that losing and blaming it on injuries makes them better than winning.
It seems that every comment within miles of the Colts is designed to inflate them. Peter King actually wrote that the Chargers playing with emotion like they did last night are almost impossible to beat. Are you kidding me? They would have lost to more than half of the teams in the NFL last night. They had absolutely no offense. The offense gave away 7 points. They scored twice because of poor Colts s/ts, Manning threw 6 Ints, and it took a missed 29 yard FG for them to win. Making that comment about SD, who played horrendously is clearly a way to make the Colts look better.

I just don't get it.
Why is so much of the media rooting for the Colts? It seems like they are playing damage control to make everyone think the Colts are better than they are. I never ever remember anything like this, and quite honestly I have no clue why the media has decided to make the Colts their cause.

I have two comments to make;

1. I have to say the Tom Jackson is looking to be more & more a Colts fan every week. This may just be a "white" guys perspective, but he seems to be making this some type of race issue. Am I saying Tom Jackson is racist? To a degree, I believe he is. He always makes it a point to name Donavon McNabb as one of the top QB's in the league whenver that discussion comes up...it just makes me wonder as I do not see McNabb as a top QB & I never have. In his best years, he was very good, no more.

2. The media has to continue to keep the national opinion of the Colts at a high level to balance the Good vs. Evil theme. Otherwise, Evil would already have won! Seriously, they do have to keep talking up another team at the Patriots level to keep interest at a high level.

 

[Metaphors]

Re: Ive never seen anything like this Colt apologist approach from the media

Not "compared." They had a whole Manning as Beowulf and San Diego as Grendel, I guess, tie-in to the movie. It was dreadful.

They are just trying to teach everyone some literary concepts. Peyton as the hero against the "monstrous" Chargers? It is practically dripping with irony. Much like Peyton's "rock hard abs" commentary during his Pep Talk commercials. I for one appreciate the media's effort to use the Colts as an educational vehicle.

I can't wait until they use the Colts to teach us about tragedy during the playoffs...

 

[maverick4]

Re: Ive never seen anything like this Colt apologist approach from the media

The media loves to worship Dungy and Manning, it baffles me.
When they lose the media makes excuses for them and praises them, when they win the media glorifies them.

It's really pretty pathetic.

 

[Satchboogie3]

Re: Ive never seen anything like this Colt apologist approach from the media

I guarantee that if the Pats somehow lose to the Browns or Stealers, all we will hear about is how that Pats aren't as good as they thought they were and here come the Colts, blah blah blah. But the Colts lose and it's "A moral victory" or "Doesn't count becuase of the injuries", blah blah blah blah blah.

I just can't wait for their excuse when the Colts get blown at at Foxborough in the AFCCG.

 

[Ghost of Ben Dreith]

Re: Ive never seen anything like this Colt apologist approach from the media

I think you missing the deeper meaning to all this.

None of them are really defending the Colts, their defending their own judgement ! They've all been writing and talking for weeks about how good the Colts are, when the Colts loose, they look stupid. They built his team up and having the team fail really isn't an option for them, because they'd have to admit they were wrong. How can someone who's been saying how great they are make a statement like " They should be able to make up for injuries like everyone else, oh ya, I was wrong to say they were an elite team, because elite teams overcome these types of things"

I think this point is exactly correct.

 

[FloridaPatsFan]

Re: Ive never seen anything like this Colt apologist approach from the media

What worries me is that if you think you've seen biased officiating the last 2 weeks, wait until you see what the NFL is going to do to carry the Colts to the AFCCG.

This could get downright ugly.

 

[SamBam39]

you mean it's not ugly already?

 

[patsox23]

The Patriots of 03 and 04 were the 2 SB Champs in NFL history with the most games lost to injury by starters.

CORRECTION (I believe): The Patriots of 03 and 04 were the 2 NFL TEAMS in league history with the most games lost to injury by starters. I just spent the last 5+ hours driving down listening to all manner of excuse-making. Whatever, it's a joke.

 

[sieglo]

Re: Ive never seen anything like this Colt apologist approach from the media

I think you missing the deeper meaning to all this.

None of them are really defending the Colts, their defending their own judgement ! They've all been writing and talking for weeks about how good the Colts are, when the Colts loose, they look stupid. They built his team up and having the team fail really isn't an option for them, because they'd have to admit they were wrong. How can someone who's been saying how great they are make a statement like " They should be able to make up for injuries like everyone else, oh ya, I was wrong to say they were an elite team, because elite teams overcome these types of things"

Right, but a big reason the Colts have been bilt up is because of the perception that only they could stop the Pats.

 

[maverick4]

A big reason for the media ballwashing is because Tony Dungy is Black and because Peyton Manning is royalty.

 

[BrianPat]

Re: Ive never seen anything like this Colt apologist approach from the media

Right, but a big reason the Colts have been bilt up is because of the perception that only they could stop the Pats.

That's a good point, which they almost did !

 

[frankiesfly]

I know what you're saying Andy. It's really crazy. Most of all it is the most pathetic thing I ever have seen or heard. Just like Mark Schlereth after the game last night talking on ESPN. I never heard anyone sound so pathetic. He sounded so pathetic I was actually laughing out loud. The reason behind all this is to just make the Colts appear to be as good as the Pats. Everyone wants to classify the Pats and Colts as being in the same class. Noone wants to say how much better the Pats really are than them. It's the only way to justify the Pats and Colts being on the same level, mentioning all the injuries the Colts have. Seriously I knew the Colts were going to lose this game, and I knew this is what was going to happen. I knew all the media Coltfudgepackers would be saying anything they can to justfy the Colts loss. I'll tell ya right now that if the Pats had everyone injured and lost it would be a media celebration. They would be celebrating our loss. All you would here is that we aren't that good. Just like everyone is saying we're not that good because we only beat the Colts by a few ponts. Now that the Colts lost to the Chargers they have to find some way, anyway for people not to believe we are much more superior than the rest.

 

[psychoPat]

Re: Ive never seen anything like this Colt apologist approach from the media

The concepts of teamwork, efficiency, tireless preparation and self-improvement play well in Tokyo. America wants stars, big plays, shoot from the hip and natural ability.

Patriots...Japan's Team.

That is marvelous!

 

[VJ11]

I think my comments will fall in line with the other entries in this thread: The Colts are the current media darlings of the NFL. No matter what they do, no matter how bad they play, or whatever else they do to look bad, the media will find a way around it, turn it into something neutral or positive, since they want the Colts on that pedestal. The Pats overcame some bad and suspicious officiating against the Colts, but that is swept under the rug. It clashes with the 'classy' organization the Colts are supposed to be.
Are they kidding or what? This is still the same team that was a doormat for the rest of the AFC East with regularity, when there were still 3 divisions in both conferences. Bill Polian, after getting thumped 4 times in a row at Buffalo, is the GM that has to bully the Rules Committee to alter rules so his sissy wide outs can actually run their routes. The Colts still are 3-8 against the Patriots during this decade. I don't see the class, or the quality of the organization.

I know that the media and the general public want the Patriots to go away. In their eyes the Pats have outlasted their 15 minutes of fame, and it's time for other teams to rule the NFL. That's what you get with people who have the attention span of a gnat. Guess what gnats: the Patriots are going to be in your face for a very long time. They have passed the darling stage to enter the villain territory and are moving towards 'always there, no matter what you think' status.

 

[sdaniels7114]

I noticed a distinct amount of sympathy on NBC last night in regards to the Colts only dressing 44 players. How can that be anything other than incompetence? There's got to be hundreds of recent grads who played in the NCAA's Div 1 working all over the place who'd drop everything for a chance to wear an NFL uniform for a couple of days or even hours. Why doesn't Napolian have a list of 50 or 100 guys who are close, but not quite (in ordinary circumstances) good enough to play? Is this some sort of salary cap thing?

 

[patfanken]

A couple of points

1. Good thread, Andy

2. Great post, VJ

3. As Mike Smith has reported, this media witch hunt that's being perpetrated by the national media is all about 2 things that Bostonians should easily recognize- self interested Politics and Revenge

a. Its to the media's best interest to have a "good vs evil" dynamic going as a continuing story line during this season. The Pats were an obvious choice BEFORE the 'spygate' thing happened, since they are perceived as the "yankees" of the NFL, (without having the ability to simply outspend like the real Yankees).

b. Its all about payback to BB. He's a media guy's nightmare. No charisma, no cooperation, no information, and a dull, dull, DULL presentation. BB understands that the media cannot help you win a game, yet they CAN help you lose one, so he wisely created this personna.

On the other hand the media REWARDS people who make their job easier, and punish those who make it hard.

4. While other might like the "bad guy" image this season is creating, I DON'T.
I want to fight back...in a proper PR way. I want start a campaign to make the Colts look like the evil empire that they are. Here are a few sounding points that need to be spread.

a. Compare the Owners. One owner is from a family that under the cover of darkness STOLE a beloved franchise from a city that supported the family, JUST BECAUSE the city wouldn't pay for a free stadium.

The other owner SAVED a franchise, built a privately financed stadium, promotes good deeds to the exent that they make charitible good works a part of every contract they sign.

b. One is lead by a HC who is the poster child for intolerance, even though he is a minority himself. A man who lets his own religious beliefs dictate what he think OTHERS should believe.

The other team is lead by a HC who UNDER THE RADAR has done more work in the black community than the "black" HC he is compared to.

c. One team is led by a HC who has complained openly about the refs, the injuries, and is an excuse maker

The other team is lead by a guy who has NEVER made an excuse, and is the first to blame HIMSELF when things go wrong.

d. One team has a GM who is a psychotic bully, who tries to constantly intimidate the league into creating unfair advantages for his team.

The other team has a GM who would be everyone's first choice to be Santa at Christmas. A guy who has proven to be on of the top GMs in the league, yet his happy to be in the background and not out front.

e. On the field one team is led by a QB who despite all the talent he's had to play with, only managed to win it all ONCE, and that took the best half of football in his career, along with playing a decimated team. Beyond that he's best known for great personal stats and losing every big game he'd ever been in from college to the pros.

The other team is led by a guy who didn't have the pedigree. Didn't have all the natural talent, and Didn't have any of the notiriety that Manning had. He literally willed and worked himself into the position he now occupies. That of the only 3 time Superbowl winner before he was 30. He has been know since college for WINNING most of his BIG games than losing them.

f. One QB whines on and off the field. Throws his fellow players under the bus whenever things go wrong. He blames them, injuries and the refs for all his failings....and never himself.

The other NEVER does that...even when he could. Even now you could never get Tom Brady to say a negative thing about guys likr Givens, Branch, Caldwell, Gabriel, etc, even when they AREN'T teammates any longer

g. One guy has PROVEN now that when he's presented with LESS than stellar components to play with, his personal play suffers.

The other has PROVEN that he makes everyone else around him better. NO one who has played with him on the offensive side of the ball has gone on to play even close to the same level elsewhere. He makes average players look good, and good players look great....AND now that he has a truely great player to work with, he is making HIM look HISTORIC.


BOTTOM LINE - who are the good guys here, and it is our duty to let the rest of the country know what WE know. This is a great team and organization. The players who play here opitimize TEAMWORK and SELFLESSNESS. They respect their opponents. They say the right things. They act the right way. And while it may be dull to the media, it IS the real AMERICAN way. At least the American way BEFORE we became a nation of self indulgent, self absorbed, selfish, "its all about me and what I can get" nation that plays to the lowest common denominator in all of us.

Hopefully there is someone out there who actually has a PR background and KNOWS how to get out the TRUTH and counter this current media campaign to make the Pats the evil empire.

 

[maverick4]

PFKen is the best.